Leaching kinetics of colemanite in potassium hydrogen sulphate solutions

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the dissolution kinetics of colemanite in potassium hydrogen sulphate solutions in a mechanical agitation system and to declare an alternative reactant to produce boric acid. Reaction temperature, concentration of potassium hydrogen sulphate, stirring speed, solid/liquid ratio and colemanite particle size were selected as parameters on the dissolution rate of colemanite. The experimental results were successfully correlated by linear regression using Statistica Package Program. Dissolution curves were evaluated in order to test shrinking core models for solid–fluid systems. It was observed that increase in the reaction temperature and decrease in the solid/liquid ratio causes an increase the dissolution rate of colemanite. The dissolution extent is highly increased with increase the stirring speed rate between 100 and 500 rpm and the dissolution extent is slowly increased with increase the stirring speed between 500 and 700 rpm in experimental conditions. The activation energy was found to be 26.34 kJ/mol. The leaching of colemanite was controlled by diffusion through the product (or ash) layer. The rate expression associated with the dissolution rate of colemanite depending on the parameters chosen may be summarized as follows: 1 − 3 ( 1 − X ) 2 / 3 + 2 ( 1 − X ) = 10.41 × C 1.01 × W 1.55 × D − 1.43 × ( S / L ) − 0.60 × e ( − 26.34 / R T ) × t .